# The greatest athletic feat of the past 100 years **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109 "2003-02-24T05:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/21 "2003-02-24T16:13:06Z")
You could also mention Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points in a single basketball game. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/22 "2003-02-24T16:25:42Z")
I agree that team sport records are kinda iffy…not only because the player is getting assistance from his team, but also because your scoring ability is based on the skill of the opposing team. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/23 "2003-02-24T16:42:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SlowMindThinking \* > \*\* There’s also the Mantle/Ruth homerun record that required improvements in chemistry to be broken. (Of course, they changed the pitchers mound to give batters a chance, also.) Seems to me the longest field goal record also lasted from the sixties through the nineties. > \*\* That should be Maris, not Mantle - he never had the record. And Maris had it in a longer season than Ruth. Didn’t they just TIE the NFL FG record? Think Dempsey still has a piece. The baseball record I think stands the furthest apart? 36 triples. (Wilson, c. 1912)I think no one before of after had more than 26. With today’s parks, it will stand forever. Van der Meer’s 2 0-hittters has at least been approached. Wilt’s tougher record may be one year he averaged over 48 minutes a game (due to OT). With the pacing today, no one plays that much. One shot deal? Beamon. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/24 "2003-02-24T17:05:36Z")
I’ve voted for Secretariat’s Belmont Stakes performance every time this question has come up. Big Red still gets my vote (and for his entire 2 year old performance, even though the Belmont was the crowning achievement. “Where the hell are all the other horses?”). ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/25 "2003-02-24T17:23:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by plnnr \* > \*\*I’ve voted for Secretariat’s Belmont Stakes performance every time this question has come up. Big Red still gets my vote (and for his entire 2 year old performance, even though the Belmont was the crowning achievement. “Where the hell are all the other horses?”). \*\* Aren’t the Triple Crowns 3 year olds? ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/26 "2003-02-24T17:28:34Z")
> [@](#): > > And competitions at altitude took place before and since, and, again, no one came close. I know of no major track and field competitions at over 7000 feet. The [olympic.org](http://olympic.org) site states that at 7000 feet, there is 30% less oxygen, and so presumably, 30% less air resistance. I wish I could find a listing of the results of the other jumps. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/27 "2003-02-24T17:31:46Z")
err, I meant “no other”. And instead of at “7000 feet” I meant at “2300 meters” ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/28 "2003-02-24T17:47:07Z")
Oops. Didn’t “preview” and catch the typo - even though he was Horse of the Year as both a 2 year old and a 3 year old, his Belmont Stakes performance was as a 3 year old (he won the Belmont Futurity as a 2 year old, the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown as a 3 year old). ---
**Author:** ![yawndave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/43a26b/32.png) [@yawndave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawndave)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/29 "2003-02-24T17:50:59Z")
Rienhold Messner’s climb to Everest’s summit without oxygen…not to mention his other mountaineering feats, deserves a mention. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/30 "2003-02-24T18:00:00Z")
I think the fact that Mike Powell broke Beamon’s record at sea level (Tokyo, 1991) could be just as impressive. And Powell’s record has lasted 12 years now. And Lee Evans’ set the 400 meter record at Mexico City in 1968 and it lasted until 1988. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/31 "2003-02-24T18:19:56Z")
**Lance Armstrong** in 1999. He was given a 30%\* chance of living in 1996 due to testucular cancer which had spread to both his lungs and brain. Three years later, he wins the [toughest sporting event in the world](http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html). Later the doctors told him that they thought the chances of survival were around 3%. The 30% was to cheer him up. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/32 "2003-02-24T18:21:28Z")
The wind was blowing at 2.0 meters per second. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/33 "2003-02-24T18:32:46Z")
Nadia Comaneci getting several perfect 10’s in gymnastics. A first ever. Sara Hughes perfect skating performance at the 2002 Olympics. No one expected her to finish higher than 4th. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/34 "2003-02-24T18:39:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yawndave \* > Rienhold Messner’s climb to Everest’s summit without oxygen… That would get my vote were it not for his solo, unassisted, no-oxygen ascent of Everest 2 years later (August 1980). He believed that mountains should be climbed “By fair means” which he felt meant no oxygen and no help from others. This precluded the standard “easy” route on Everest (which he’d used for his 1978 climb) because of the “engineering” done each year to forge a route of ladders and ropes through the icefall. As he saw it, the only way to climb Everest fairly was to hike in from the north, through Tibet. This became politically feasible in 1980, and he grabbed the chance. Even the concept is remarkable. To have pulled this off on the first try (which he did, but barely) is, to me, the greatest athletic feat of the 20th century. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/35 "2003-02-24T18:42:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > \*_ **Lance Armstrong** in 1999. He was given a 30%_ chance of living in 1996 due to testucular cancer which had spread to both his lungs and brain. Three years later, he wins the [toughest sporting event in the world](http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html). > > Later the doctors told him that they thought the chances of survival were around 3%. The 30% was to cheer him up. \*\* Even more amazing is that he’s done it **4 times in a row!** ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/36 "2003-02-24T18:51:45Z")
Womens records never seem to get the credit they deserve. Beryl Burton’s destruction of the world 12 hour time trial cycling record, is the one I would pick out, so great was this achievement it broke the mens world record too, and she beat the mens national champion by catching him for 2 minutes after 10 hours. [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony-lyons/Cyclists/BurtonB.htm](http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony-lyons/Cyclists/BurtonB.htm) This record has not since been broken by a woman, and it took years for a man to do it, on far, far better roads, on very much more advanced machines.I seriously doubt that this record will ever be broken by a woman, unless it takes place on a one way course, on good smooth roads with a following wind. I have personally ridden that very 12 hour course, which takes place on some pretty average roads, but these are way better standards than in 1967, I’d be willing to bet that on modern roads she could have cracked the 300 mile mark. Until you have ridden eyeballs out for 12 hours it is hard to begin to imagine the stress it places upon your body, it generally affects your performance for a good month afterwards. We have a poster on these boards **Booboo foo** who has ridden at olympic level, I’d be surprised if even he was capable, at his very best, of equalling Beryl’s record. If this achievement was not enough, take a look at the longevity of her career at the highest level too. Despite being the greatest female cyclist of all time, she was very down to earth and was always prepared to go out on a Sunday club run, a real genuine person with no hint of airs and graces. [http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=2487](http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=2487) ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/37 "2003-02-24T19:21:32Z")
I am quite surprised that this thread has gone on this long and no noe has mentioned Jim Thorpe winning both the Decathlon and Pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/38 "2003-02-24T19:46:06Z")
I’d say it was the time Adam West snapped his bonds so that he could pry Burt Ward out of that giant clam. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/39 "2003-02-24T19:52:38Z")
Dammit, you spoiled it! I remember part one of that episode from the 60’s, but our baby sitter turned on Cinderella for my sister, instead letting my brother and I watch it. Now I know how it comes out! ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109/40 "2003-02-24T20:22:36Z")
My nomination: tennis player Bill Tilden, who truly was unbeatable for several stretchs in the 1920s. He did not lose ONE match in 1924 In 1925, he won 57 consecutive GAMES Late in his career he played a competitive match against Bobby Riggs who was still a top ranked player. Riggs was in his mid-20s, Tilden twice his age. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-athletic-feat-of-the-past-100-years/157109.md?page=3)